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Lines to Jonathan E. Hoag
On His Eighty-Eighth Birthday Anniversary
Over the top of man's threescore and ten,
By reason of strength even fourscore, and then
With another eight of added years
(A lengthened string of pearls and tears),
Thou gifted man with the poet's pen,
Tenderly touching the hearts of men,
Hast an eye that sees, and an ear that hears.
By reason of strength even fourscore, and then
With another eight of added years
(A lengthened string of pearls and tears),
Thou gifted man with the poet's pen,
Tenderly touching the hearts of men,
Hast an eye that sees, and an ear that hears.
The beautiful youthhood of spirit dwells
With thee, as thy rhyming melody tells
Of the old farm home or the school-house red,
Of Dionondawa's rock-chiseled bed.
On the Mohawk's trail, midst its peaks and dells,
This spirit of youth in its grandeur swells,
When it pipes through the reeds by Nature fed.
With thee, as thy rhyming melody tells
Of the old farm home or the school-house red,
Of Dionondawa's rock-chiseled bed.
On the Mohawk's trail, midst its peaks and dells,
This spirit of youth in its grandeur swells,
When it pipes through the reeds by Nature fed.
Dear friend of mine, in my memory's halls,
Full many a picture adorns the walls,
Unfaded, clear and as fresh as dew,
Still more to be prized than when they were new,
Painted in days when our lives were young,
Ona canvas white, while the birdlings sung
In life's green spring to me—and to you.
Full many a picture adorns the walls,
Unfaded, clear and as fresh as dew,
Still more to be prized than when they were new,
Painted in days when our lives were young,
Ona canvas white, while the birdlings sung
In life's green spring to me—and to you.
Recall now those days, those halcyon days,
When a jingling pair of obedient bays,
Drew a basket-sleigh from Glenholm-terry,
To bring back its load from the seminary;
The routine of books, which a rest allays,
Was time out of mind, in a hundred ways,
Made easier far by thy words so merry.
When a jingling pair of obedient bays,
Drew a basket-sleigh from Glenholm-terry,
To bring back its load from the seminary;
The routine of books, which a rest allays,
Was time out of mind, in a hundred ways,
Made easier far by thy words so merry.
Recall too the evening at Allan's "warming,"
How blithely old and young came swarming,
When cake and cream and "jell" and pickle
And coffee hot defied the icicle!
And how Miss Hopkins, flushed and charming,
Was made to hear an account alarming,
That woman had twelve tongues—all fickle.
How blithely old and young came swarming,
When cake and cream and "jell" and pickle
And coffee hot defied the icicle!
And how Miss Hopkins, flushed and charming,
Was made to hear an account alarming,
That woman had twelve tongues—all fickle.
Recall Miss Tucker's brilliant adjec—
Tival production of verbal magic:
How "Maid of Athens," ere the parting,
Would strain the strings almost to starting.
Basso-profundo tone Hoagic
Would make that parting far less tragic,
Also the symphony less darting.
Tival production of verbal magic:
How "Maid of Athens," ere the parting,
Would strain the strings almost to starting.
Basso-profundo tone Hoagic
Would make that parting far less tragic,
Also the symphony less darting.
Recall the talks, so deep and knowing,
On what our science now was showing;
How all the ribs of earth were moulded,
And why the moon was lifeless, cold, dead;
On why the tides caused axial slowing,
And hence the days were longer growing;
Or what the chromosphere enfolded.
On what our science now was showing;
How all the ribs of earth were moulded,
And why the moon was lifeless, cold, dead;
On why the tides caused axial slowing,
And hence the days were longer growing;
Or what the chromosphere enfolded.
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